{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr447-117/featured_national-apprenticeship-act-of-2021-1612677683.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/hr447-117/featured_large_national-apprenticeship-act-of-2021-1612677683.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/hr447-117.png"},"introduced_on":"2021-01-25","title_override":"Should the Dept. of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program Be Expanded?","summary_override":"

This bill, known as the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, would provide statutory authority for the registered apprenticeship program at the Dept. of Labor (DOL). It would also support grant-related programs, among other provisions. In total, this bill would authorize over $3.5 billion for apprenticeship programs from 2021-2026. A breakdown of this bill’s various provisions can be found below.

This bill would provide statutory authority for the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within the DOL, which is responsible for:

Supporting the development of apprenticeship models;
Recognize qualified state apprenticeship agencies and operating apprenticeship offices in states without a recognized agency;
Providing technical assistance to state agencies;
Periodically updating requirements for each occupation in the apprenticeship program and determining whether to approve new occupations for inclusion in the program; and
Awarding grants provided under this legislation.

Additionally, this bill would establish in statute the responsibilities of state apprenticeship agencies and offices. These responsibilities would include:

Providing technical assistance to stakeholders;
Resolving complaints;
Establishing state performance goals; and
Including descriptions of how their apprenticeship programs align with the skills needs of their states’ employers in their written plans.

The Office of Apprenticeship would enter into an agreement with the Dept. of Education to promote the integration and alignment of apprenticeship programs with secondary, postsecondary and adult education. It would also award grants to eligible entities to 1) expand national apprenticeship system programs, including by encouraging employer participation; and 2) strengthen alignment between the apprenticeship system and education providers.

Finally, this bill would establish criteria for various programs in statute. These criteria would include quality standards for apprenticeships, requirements for apprenticeship agreements between a program sponsor and an apprentice, and acceptable uses for grant funds awarded under this bill.

","official_title":"To amend the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly referred to as the \"National Apprenticeship Act\") and expand the national apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship registered under such Act, to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes.","short_title":"National Apprenticeship Act of 2021","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 This bill provides statutory authority for the registered apprenticeship program within the Department of Labor, provides for related grant programs, and contains related provisions. The bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within Labor. The OA's responsibilities include (1) supporting the development of apprenticeship models; (2) recognizing qualified state apprenticeship agencies, and operating apprenticeship offices in...","summarized":true,"cost":3500000000,"cost_commentary":"This bill would cost over $3.5 billion over the 2021-2025 period.","impact":"Apprentices; apprenticeship programs; businesses offering apprenticeship programs; Dept. of Labor; Dept. of Education; and the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within the Dept. of Labor.","argument_for":"Apprenticeship programs are an important job and career readiness option, especially in the current environment where many people may no longer be able to afford — or want to attend — traditional postsecondary education, or may need retraining in new industries after a job loss. Supporting and expanding the existing apprenticeship program at the Dept. of Labor is the easiest way for Congress to expand the availability of apprenticeships across the United States.","argument_against":"The existing apprenticeship program at the Dept. of Labor is outdated and doesn’t meet the needs of many businesses, which would prefer to determine their own apprenticeship training requirements without the oversight of bureaucrats who don’t necessarily have the expertise to determine what skills are needed to train workers in a particular industry. 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Carolyn

Should the Dept. of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Program Be Expanded?